Deer towing harness



June 12, 1962 -vfiv I F24 l 4/ a 5"? 34 v I y INVENTOR A/f/M/ 0. Johnson 1 70. 4 v

ATTORNEY nite 3,038,644 DEER TOWING HARNESS Arthur 0. Johnson, 1660 Edger-ton St., St. Paul, Minn. Filed Aug. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 832,560 1 Claim. (Cl. 224-) This invention relates to shoulder harnesses and deals particularly With a shoulder harness adapted for trailing a load such as a heavy game carcass.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified shoulder harness which can easily be placed about the shoulders of a wearer and which is provided with a rearwardly extending tow line which is adjustable as to its efiective length.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of a towing harness which may be worn on the shoulders of two persons or wherein the shoulder straps may serve as gripping straps for'two persons towing game or the like.

Another feature of this invention lies in the provision of a towing strap which is provided with a single adjust able loop at the end of the strap opposite the end to which the shoulder straps are attached wherein the harness may be adapted to be attached to various objects or different sizes of game animals.

A further feature of this invention lies in the simplicity and compactness of the device, its adjustability and durability and in the fact that it is a device which is economical to produce.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the harness.

FIGURE 2 is a view showing the manner in which the harness may be utilized in the towing of a game carcass.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the adjusting rings connecting the, shoulder straps to the towing strap.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the adjusting rings utilized in forming a load attaching loop to the end of the tow strap.

With continued reference to the drawing the harness A is composed of a substantial length of tow strap which is connected to a pair of endless shoulder straps 12 and 14 by a pair of clasp rings 16 and 18. The rings 16 and 18 are placed through both of the shoulder straps as best seen in FIGURE 3, thus permanently connecting them. The distal end 20 of the tow strap 10* is inserted through one said ring 16 and through and around the other said ring 18, and back through said one ring 16 to be disposed between the rings as best shown at 22. The elfective length of the tow strap 10 is controlled in this manner. Thus it will be seen that when the harness is not under tension, the rings may be readily pivoted apart to permit insertion of the strap 10 therebetween, however, when the harness is under tension, the rings will be drawn tightly together, clamping the ends of the strap 10 therebetween.

The end of the strap opposite the shoulder straps is provide with a loop 24 for the purpose of attaching the harness to various objects or to the antlers 26 of the game carcass B. The loop 24 is formed here and made adjustable by a pair of further clasp rings 28 and 30. These rings 28 and 30 are engaged in a loop 31 formed by folding the end 32 of the strap back upon itself and anchoring it to the strap in any suitable manner such as by the stitching 33. The intermediate portion 34 of the strap 10 is passed through one ring 30, through and around the other ring 28, and back through said one ring 38, as best seen in FIGURE 4. The greater the longitudinal tension which is applied in either direction upon the strap 10 the more firmly the rings will be clamped together and the more secure the loop 24 will be formed and maintained.

In use the wearer C applies the harness by securing the shoulder straps around the shoulders beneath the arm pits. The loop 24 is then secured to the animal or object such as around the antlers of a deer. This arrangement enables a person wearing the harness to drag a heavy load through timber or rough terrain otherwise inaccessible for other means of transportation. If preferred, the animal may be similarly towed by two persons by using the shoulder straps as hand grips or by securing one shoulder strap about a shoulder of each per-son.

When the harness is worn by an individual, the shoulder straps are preferably crossed forwardly of the chest, the straps extending over one shoulder, across the chest, and beneath the opposite arm pit. This arrangement prevents the straps from slipping from the shoulders during the towing operation. Due to the fact that the straps are fiat, the entire harness may be rolled up compactly enough to be readily carried in a packet. Although the harness contains about seven yards of belting, it may be rolled into a package less than four inches wide. Thus it may be conveniently carried when not in use.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in shoulder harnesses, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

In a game towing means, a harness including a pair of endless shoulder straps, a pair of similar rings looped through said straps and connecting the same, a single towing strap, one end of said towing strap being folded upon itself and secured to said strap at a point spaced from the end to provide a folded end, a second pair of similar rings looped through said folded end, an intermediate portion of said towing strap extending through one of said second named rings and extending through and around the other said second ring, and back through said one second ring to provide an adjustable loop, the other end of said towing strap being looped through said first named rings, around the second ring of said pair and between the rings of said first pair of rings and back through the first ring of said pair to be clamped thereby to provide a length adjustment for said towing strap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,715,989 Sjodin et a1 Aug. 23, 1955 2,817,393 Mitchell Dec. 24, 1957 2,855,133 Mullin Oct. 7, 1958 2,897,864 Schmidt Aug. 4, 1959 2,931,629 Keller Apr. 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 338,961 Italy Mar. 31, 1936 

